PURPOSE: To easily and inexpensively carry out a double-side copying whose, head and tail are arranged without making the reader larger in the double-side reader such as a double-side copying machine.

CONSTITUTION: The double-side reader having a function reading picture data of a one side original, for example and copying the original in double side is provided with an original head/tail direction input section 3 designating the head/tail direction of the original and a picture data storage section 2 having an LIFO memory for even number pages and storing picture data read from the original. When the head/tail direction of the inputted original is perpendicular to the axial direction of a paper turnover mechanism, the picture data of even pages of the original are stored in the LIFO memory.